FCRA Prior Permission

• Enables new NGOs (under 3 years) to receive foreign grants before qualifying for full FCRA
• Project-specific permission for named donor and stated purpose
• Can be obtained while simultaneously building eligibility for full FCRA registration
• Faster processing compared to full FCRA scrutiny in some cases
• Opens international funding while awaiting 3-year track record for full FCRA
• Signals MHA confidence in the organisation — useful for future full FCRA application

• Organisation is a registered society, trust, or Section 8 company
• Organisation does not yet qualify for full FCRA registration — less than 3 years old OR has not spent Rs.15L on core activities
• A specific named foreign donor has committed to fund a specific project
• The foreign donor and project purpose must be clearly identified in the application
• NGO Darpan registration ID is required (mandatory)
• Clean governance record — no convictions or financial penalties against office bearers

• Organisation registration certificate (Trust / Society / Section 8 Company)
• Details of the specific foreign source — name, address, country, relationship with applicant
• Purpose and description of the project for which funds will be received
• Amount to be received and proposed utilisation budget
• Audited accounts for the last 1–2 years (if available)
• Activity report demonstrating charitable work undertaken
• Letter of intent or commitment from the foreign donor
• Governing body resolution authorising receipt of the specific foreign contribution
• NGO Darpan registration ID (mandatory)
• Project implementation plan with timeline and expected beneficiaries

1. Register on MHA Seva portal (foreigncontribution.nic.in)
2. Select Form FC-3B — FCRA Prior Permission
3. Fill complete organisation and project details
4. Enter specific foreign source details, amount to be received, and project purpose
5. Upload all mandatory documents in prescribed PDF format
6. Pay government fee of Rs.5,000 online
7. Submit and track status via MHA Seva portal
8. MHA may seek additional information or conduct inquiry
9. Prior Permission order issued — valid for the specific project period

• Government Fee: Rs.5,000
• Processing Time: 90–180 days
• MFiling Professional Charges: Starting from Rs.14,999

• FCRA Registration (FC-3A): For 3+ year old NGOs with Rs.15L+ core spend — general permission for all foreign contributions from any source for 5 years
• Prior Permission (FC-3B): For new NGOs — permission limited to one specific donor, one specific project, one specific amount
• Each new grant requires: Fresh Prior Permission application — there is no carry-over or umbrella permission
• Path to full FCRA: After 3 years of operation and meeting Rs.15L spend criteria, apply for full FC-3A registration

Q: Can Prior Permission be used for multiple foreign donors?
No. Each Prior Permission is specific to one foreign source and one project. If an organisation wishes to receive funds from multiple foreign donors, separate Prior Permission applications must be filed for each source and project combination.

Q: Does Prior Permission convert into full FCRA registration?
No. A Prior Permission is a one-time project-specific authorisation. Once the organisation completes 3 years of operation and meets the Rs.15 lakh expenditure criterion, it must apply separately for full FCRA registration via Form FC-3A.

Q: Can a new NGO (less than 1 year old) apply for Prior Permission?
Yes. There is no minimum age requirement for Prior Permission (FC-3B). Even a newly incorporated NGO can apply for Prior Permission for a specific grant from a named foreign donor. MHA will evaluate the application based on the organisation's credentials, project plan, and the foreign donor's background.